Editing History of Latvia (section)

==Early state formations==
{{Main|Bandava|Jersika|Metsepole|Piemare|Principality of Koknese|Tālava}}
[[File:Baltic Tribes c 1200.svg|thumb|Baltic Tribes, circa 1200 CE.]]
[[File:Jersika.jpg|thumbnail|Estimated territories under Jersika rule]]
In the 10th century, the various ancient Baltic tribal chiefdoms started forming early realms. Regional tribal cultures developed in the territory of modern-day Latvia and northern Lithuania, including the [[Curonians]], [[Latgalians]], [[Selonians]], [[Semigallians]] ({{langx|lv|kurši, latgaļi, sēļi, zemgaļi}}) and the Finnic [[Livonians]], who united under their local chiefs.

The largest tribe was the Latgalians who also were the most advanced in their socio-political development. The main Latgalian principality, [[Principality of Jersika|Jersika]], was ruled by [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]] princes from the Latgalian-[[Principality of Polotsk|Polotsk]] branch of the [[Rurik]] dynasty. The last ruler of Jersika, mentioned in the [[Chronicle of Henry of Livonia]] (a document that describes events of the late 12th and early 13th centuries) was King [[Visvaldis]] (''Vissewalde, rex de Gercike''). When he divided his realm in 1211, part of the country was called "Lettia" (''terra, quae Lettia dicitur''), probably the first time this name is mentioned in written sources.

In contrast, the Curonians, whose territories extended into today's Lithuania and [[Curonian Spit]], maintained a lifestyle of sea invasions that included looting and pillaging. On the west coast of the [[Baltic Sea]] they became known as the "Baltic Vikings."

Selonians and Semgallians, closely related to [[Aukštaitians]] and [[Samogitians]], were known as prosperous farmers and resisted Germans the longest under such chiefs as [[Viestards]]. Livonians lived along the shores of the [[Gulf of Riga]] and were fishers and traders, and they gave the first German name to this territory – [[Livonia|Livland]].

Before the German invasions started in the late 12th century, Latvia was inhabited by about 135,000 Baltic people and 20,000 Livonians.